Animal Biodiversity and Conservation. Volum 49.2 (2026) Pàgines: e0016-

Why is there no overlap in host use between the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus and the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius? A test of the breeding strategies model

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2026.49.0016

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Resum

The ‘breeding strategies model’ suggests that brood parasites with evictor nestlings should parasitize clutch-adjuster species, whereas those with nest-sharing nestlings should use brood-reducer species as hosts. This model was proposed to explain the complete lack of overlap between the host species exploited by the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, which parasitizes insectivorous songbirds, and the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius, which mainly uses corvids as hosts. In agreement with this model, 100% of common cuckoo hosts are clutch adjusters. Although corvids are brood reducers, some starling species parasitized by the great spotted cuckoo in southern Africa are not. However, these species are only rarely used, and there is no reliable scientific evidence that starlings are able to successfully rear great spotted cuckoo nestlings. Therefore, these cases may represent parasitism of poorly suitable host species due to the scarcity of corvids.

Paraules clau

Breeding strategies model, Brood parasitism, Clamator glandarius, Cuculus canorus, Host selection

Cita

Soler, M., 2026. Why is there no overlap in host use between the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus and the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius? A test of the breeding strategies model. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 49: e0016-, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2026.49.0016